Western Foodie: Spiced Squash Soup BY MIKE EDGAR
An Ode to My Farrier BY LEE MCLEAN
The Mules’ Contribution to Civilization BY DEBBIE MACRAE
Horsemanship • Culture • Style
Red Hott Cat Canada’s Triple Threat Talent, Temperament & Striking Appeal
BARREL RACER,
CARMAN POZZOBON Doesn’t Let Multiple Sclerosis Slow Her Down
WESTERN WEDDINGS Country Couples Run to the Alter
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Charlotte Small would become one of the most significant female contributors to the development of Canada. Here’s her story.
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This show-stopping platter of beef is topped Metal mouth. An equine vet takes us through the diagnosis and treatment of a with a glaze reduction, vegetables and dainty truffle oil fries, then served on a bed of smoked horse with a metal sliver in its tongue. blue cheese polenta. Get the recipe!
January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 5
contents JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022
Out West 8
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
10
LEAD LINE
13
OUT WEST
14
OUT WEST
16
EMPTY SADDLES
16
GREENER PASTURES
While it is not customary to discuss video games in WHR, this one oozes the wild west. How the west was worn! Western fashion is a continually evolving style and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum examines this concept in a new exhibit. Canadian cow horse stallion, Cats Picasso will make an appearance in the upcoming season five of the hit television series, Yellowstone. Remembering the life of avid horsewoman, Debra Thompson. A tribute to the Canadian cow horse powerhouse, Maximum Echo.
Western Culture 18 20 22
20 6 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
GEAR & STYLE
The best, new west gear to start the year off right.
GOOD WORK
Recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, barrel racing legend Carman Pozzobon isn’t letting the disease define her.
WESTERN FOODIE
Spiced squash soup is the ultimate comfort food.
22
42
27 54 Features 27
DEDICATED & DIVERSE
36
COMING IN HOTT
38
We interview four riders who are talented in a range of disciplines and refuse to be identified by only one equine sport. Red Hott Cat has made his mark on the Canadian cutting scene and is climbing the ranks as an extraordinary sire.
2021 CANADIAN FINALS RODEO COVERAGE
The CFR 47 may have happened back in December, but here are some behind-the-scene stories you don’t want to miss!
42
CANADIANS DOWN SOUTH
Some highlights from the big international events that saw Canadian riders emerge on top.
46
FOREVER AFTER ALL
54
ON THE BACKS OF THE MULE TRAIN
58
BACK FORTY
Here’s how two country couples ran to the alter in 2021. The contribution of mules to society over the course of history is vast and somewhat surprising. Lee McLean pens an if-it-weren’t-so-true-itwould-be-funny, ode to farriers everywhere.
on the cover Red Hott Cat
Photo by Natalie Jackman, www.have-dog.com
January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 7
publisher’s note
Tara McKenzie Fotos
The Great Happiness Reset “Happiness is not the absence of problems; it’s the ability to deal with them.” – Steve Maraboli I personally feel like there’s a revolution coming. It might not be as powerful as the movement of the earth around the sun, or the overthrow of a government (or maybe it will be) – but more of an individual revolution, tailored by each of us who decide to re-evaluate our lives and make changes for the future. I believe isolation periods have forced people to strip back to the basics and really see what’s important. I feel as though the great “happiness” reset is upon us. Case in point – Carman Pozzobon’s story on page 20, written by Kirk Prescott of BAR XP PHOTO is so inspiring, you can’t help but hold the talented barrel racer in high regard. Recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Pozzobon isn’t letting the disease hamper her rodeo dreams. Find out how she succeeds by reading her incredible feature. On page 27, Prescott also takes us inside the lives of four accomplished riders who refuse to be pigeon-holed by one discipline. Some of them are grabbing onto driving lines, while other are swapping out their western saddles for the English version. It’s really cool to see how these riders are realizing the opportunity to further their horsemanship by educating themselves with other equestrian pursuits. Then on page 42, we have some 2021 highlights from international shows that saw Canadians emerge on top. More than ever, Canadian riders are making a huge showing, proving their abilities and the talents of their horses. It’s exciting to see this renewed energy for competition and showmanship – and to see it pay off. It’s an energy that’s been brewing. People are resetting themselves. Whether you are looking forward to traveling with horses again, holding fast to your dreams, or simply making a recipe for comfort food in your kitchen, we have all of that in this issue (check out Chef Edgar’s recipe for Spiced Squash Soup on page 22 – sooooooo good!)
This picture has nothing to do with my Publisher’s Note, nor this issue of WHR – just my son living his best life. Something I think we all need to focus on in 2022.
And if you have a story about how you are personally resetting your happiness, share it with us! Please send to me at: cwformancehorses@hotmail.com or share on our social media channels. We just might share it with the world! ~ Jenn Webster
Send your comments, questions, letters or story ideas to me at editorial@westernhorsereview.com. We may include them in an upcoming edition of Western Horse Review. 8 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 9
Leadline
(VIRTUAL) OUTLAWS FOR LIFE “I CAN BE A MOONSHINER NOW..!” It’s not a sentence I’m used to hearing from my daughter. And never in a million years did I expect to be writing about a video game in Western Horse Review. Yet, here we are. If you’re in my demographic, you were first introduced to the world of video games on an original Nintendo – the gray box system that came with Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt. 10 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
Whenever the chores were done, we kids leaped at the opportunity for a few minutes to play. Watching the pixelated, Italian characters (twin brothers Mario and Luigi,) dodge fireballs and break bricks with their heads for coins became a fond childhood pastime. I’m here to tell you that video games have come a long way since… With a mature rating, I wasn’t sure what to think initially, about Red Dead
Redemption II (RDR II). Created by Rockstar Games, RDR II comes from the home of Grand Theft Auto – which in all honesty, isn’t a game I allow my children to play. RDR II too, has a long list of warnings for violent content, strong language, etc., and suggests that it should only be played by gamers aged 17 and up. Somehow, however, we were drawn to RDR II and I now realize why. This vivid game boasts insanely, beautiful graphics and oozes the wild west. Set at the dawn of the modern age in 1899 America, RDR II is at its core, about
With all of its sagebrush, sunsets, drama and gorgeous scenery, Red Dead Redemption II is a wildly satisfying video game.
survival. The main character, Arthur Morgan finds himself at a crossroads after a robbery goes horribly wrong in the town of Blackwater. He’s forced to choose between his own ideals and the gang of outlaws who raised him. Players experience this epic game as the tale of Morgan and the Van der Linde gang unfolds – the group must flee federal agents and bounty hunters that are closing in. Characters have to cross cruel and rugged territory, and survive wildlife and the elements. Of course, there are more underhanded tasks too, as the gang
fights and robs their way through. Players travel on horseback and this is where one truly begins to notice the extreme level of detail in the game. There are 19 different breeds of horses in RDR II and each one has different characteristics and handles differently. Characters must bond with their mounts and if not, some horses won’t hesitate to buck their riders off when faced with a threat. Then there are times when the horses get impatient and begin to stomp their feet if a player is taking too much time to decide on things.
Both situations are not that much different in real life. There are many astounding features that come together to bring RDR II to life. (Did we mention that Willie Nelson lends his voice on the game soundtrack?) There are dogs to pet, mountains to cross, pockets to pick, mustangs to break, outlaws to kill and gold bricks to find. Meanwhile, you’ll marvel at the scenery and the wildlife and the cinematic shoot-outs. Love ‘em or lump ‘em, video games are here to stay. The Red Dead series is all part of the modern west and I don’t mind it one bit that my kids are fascinated by a virtual world, inspired by a western adventure. It’s another way western heritage is being infused into the 21st century: in a day and age where western culture is slowly disappearing. With all of its sagebrush, sunsets, drama and gorgeous scenery, Red Dead Redemption II is wildly satisfying. So, if you find yourself brushing a kid aside for a chance at the controller yourself – Hey, a mom’s got to do, what a mom’s got to do. ~ By Jenn Webster January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 11
12 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
Outwest HOW THE WEST WAS WORN BLUE JEANS, AUTOMOBILES, brightly-colored dishes and even dental bling all have one thing in common – they’ve all been influenced by western design. Discover how the history and craftsmanship of the West influenced goods and culture through the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s newest exhibition, Western Wares, opening February 11, 2022. The museum is based in Oklahoma City, OK. Western design is a term familiar to a global audience, drumming up images of pearl-snap shirts, rhinestones, and cowboy hats. Visitors will learn that western design has been crafted over time by different people and traditions. It is a continually evolving style that is both connected to the geography of the west, but also defined by each person who wears it. “Here at The Cowboy, we know that the history and legends of the West have influenced many aspects of American culture deeply,” said Natalie Shirley, Museum President and CEO. “This exhibition is a fun way to see the impact that cowboy and. western culture has had on the world of design.” Western Wares will take museum visitors through the history behind the rise in popularity of the western aesthetic, from the 1890s, to its historic peak in the mid-twentieth century and then on to present day. Upon entering the exhibition space, museum visitors will first experience the early influences of design that stemmed from Indigenous, Hispanic and European cultures and were used on the range starting in the 1800s. The exhibition will then explore varied interpretations of western design by rodeo performers, musicians, vintage enthusiasts, and people looking to reclaim their cultural traditions. It will also feature a space that delves into the mechanical processes of making a look, including sewing, leather working, silversmithing and design. Much of the western fashion presented in the exhibition will come from the museum’s extensive collections. The exhibition will also feature many never-before seen photographs. Western Wares will be on exhibit through May 1, 2022. January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 13
Outwest MANIFESTING THE UNIVERSE SOME CANADIAN BLOOD WILL MAKE A CELEBRITY appearance in Season five of the hit television series, Yellowstone and Canadians are ecstatic about it. Back in December 2021, the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Foundation hosted a charity auction, offering people the chance to bid on an opportunity to have a horse written into the script of Yellowstone, by creator and director, Taylor Sheridan. The event was held at the NCHA Foundation Western Heritage Celebration in Fort Worth, TX, and it welcomed a full house. The winning big was awarded to Coast Performance Horses of Langley, BC, owner of the stallion, Cats Picasso (Metallic Cat x Playboys Vixen). The brass of Coast Performance Horses were at home in Canada, watching the event take place via livestream, while professional trainer, Travis Rempel facilitated the bidding down south. “It was the most stressful event of my life,” chuckles Deb Anderson (Dickson), one of the partners of Coast Performance Horses. The group continued to bid until they had the win of the coveted prize. Cats Picasso will appear in some fashion, in season five. Once Sheridan writes him into the script, the Canadian cow horse with
14 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
the big heart and blaze face will be brought on set in Montana. Proceeds of the winning bid went towards the NCHA Foundation, which directly supports the NCHA and the cutting horse community, through their endeavours to educate youth, protect the horse, preserve the past, and secure the future of the sport of cutting. “Thank you to Taylor Sheridan, the Yellowstone team and the NCHA Foundation for the incredible opportunity, and to Travis Rempel for representing Coast Performance Horses and bidding on our behalf,” reported the Coast Performance crew. With lifetime earnings exceeding $171,000, multiple credentials to his name, and the fact that he is Canadian-trained and owned – Cats Picasso is one of those meticulously polished representatives in which all of us northerners can take pride. Having him highlighted in Yellowstone, the show that has brought the ranching and cowboy way of life into mainstream pop culture, is one of the greatest matches of our generation. Why? Well, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more deserving representative to fit into Sheridan’s modern western than the talented Canadian cow horse better known as “Tonto.” ~ By Jenn Webster
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e
empty saddles
DEBRA JANE (STRONSKI) THOMPSON It is with great sadness that the family of Debbie Thompson announced her passing at the Foothills Country Hospice Society on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, at the age of 67. Debbie was survived by her husband and best friend of 44 years, Bryan Thompson, daughter Amy (Steve) Carver, son Chris (Sandia) Thompson, grandchildren, Ashley Carver, Kaitlynn Carver and Elijah Thompson, her mother Anne Stronksi, and siblings Diane (Rick) Raesler, Connie (Jack) Faris, Sharon (Steve) Marshall, Wendy (Larry) Macdonald, Billy (Carmen) Stronski and their families. Debbie was born in Lethbridge, AB, and grew up in Turin, AB, where she developed her love of horses on her family farm. She moved to Claresholm, AB, in her high school years and would end up meeting the love of her life there. She traveled the world showing horses and excelled in her class. Debbie moved to Millarville, AB, in 1984 where she raised her family. She started the Thompson Training Center in 1988 in which she was able to live out her passion every day training horses and sharing her talent with others. Throughout her life, she was competitive in many horse events, including pleasure, equitation, trail, reining, working cow horse, and cutting, and her skill was evident through her awards, trophies, and buckles. However, for the past 35 years, she mainly focused on cattle penning, in which she won numerous accolades, but her favourite part was getting to do it with her family.
April 6, 1954 ~ January 12, 2022 (age 67)
Debbie and Bryan traveled to many vacation spots and always enjoyed their trips and time together.
greener pastures
MAXIMUM ECHO
April 9, 2004 – January 15, 2022 Lovingly known as “Max,” this beautiful sorrel stallion will be remembered as a big part of the lives of the Swales family and the reined cow horse world. Although he only stood 14’2, his strong build and huge heart always made people think he was a big horse! “Big is a word that sums up his contribution to our lives,” says Deanne Swales. “He was a steady friend around our barn for the last 14 years. Always so loving and friendly with his kind eye and quick steps for a pet when near by. Max was a true gentleman when preparing for competition, collecting during breeding season or when enjoying his retirement in the pasture (or warm barn once temperatures dropped come winter!)” Max was renowned for his big powerful sliding stops and big gritty fence turns. “Our children always remember with huge smiles, his 232 fence score that crowned him the 2014 National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) Open Bridle World Champion! Max and John shared many accolades from Open Hackamore championships through the ranks to the honour of receiving the NRCHA Supreme Cow Horse Award in 2015,” Deanne relays. Owner, Flo Houlton, gave Max every opportunity to showcase his talents in Alberta and at NRCHA Events across North America. Flo travelled with the horse many times to the U.S., cheering him on and helping with the three young, Swales children. Flo gave Max the opportunity to do what he loved, and he did it well. 16 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
“We are honored that Flo allowed us to care for Max through his career and in his retirement,” says Deanne. “Maximum Echo, you have left a big hole in our hearts, but we know, with time, that hole will be filled with all the wonderful memories and good times you blessed us with! We will take joy in continuing to watch your offspring show and reminiscing about all the big adventures you gave Flo and our family!” Special thanks to Dr. Suzon Schaal for taking such good care of Max, along with the rest of the Swales team.
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the best, new west gear to start 2022 off right. 3
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3 CRITTER STICKERS These high quality vinyl stickers from Cypress Crown make an adorable addition to your Yeti mug, binder, notebook, hat can – or basically anywhere you want to stick ‘em! Choose from saddle, bison, or two-rein designs that were created by Remy Campbell in Medicine Hat, AB. $3 each or packs available. Find Cypress Crown on Instagram. 4 PRECIOUS METALS The Harlow or Zara beaded coin earrings from Feathered Roan are handmade with genuine coins showing the buffalo or chief side. Also available in custom colour options – but they go quick! Contact this southern Alberta small business for details. $50 www. featheredroan.ca 5 POCKET KING These square toe boots by Double H feature anti-slip soles and a hidden pocket for man’s every day essentials. $309 www.lammles.com
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18 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
6 SMALL SPACES Have a small space that requires a sleeping arrangement? Kootenay Beds offer Murphy beds that are both a beautiful piece of furniture, as well as a smart space saver. What’s different about these beds? They are Canadian-made and crafted entirely by handpicked boards of natural wood – pine, fir, spruce – offering a western lifestyle look like no other. Choose from queens, doubles, twins or bunks. Or, get one for the pup! Inquire for pricing. kootenaybeds.ca
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Good Work
Pozzytive Patterns
Often working in solitude, Carman Pozzobon is a courageous cowgirl who fights a battle that is unknown to many. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the fall of 2020, an incredible burden was added to Pozzobon’s routine. Suffice it to say, this hasn’t slowed her down.
V
By Kirk Prescott BAR XP PHOTO
oted Canadian Professional Rodeo Association’s (CPRA) Cowgirl of the Year, 2021, Carman Pozzobon is a shining example of positive affirmation and undying determination. Born and raised in Savona, British Columbia, this dedicated and driven cowgirl is no stranger to the rodeo-trail. Despite travelling abroad to chase her dreams, the lakes and mountains of British Columbia have always held Pozzobon’s heart. Outside of the arena, she enjoys skiing, snowmobiling, and wake-surfing. She remains competitive in all that she does, except for taking it easy, and Pozzobon is known for her positive outlook and fortitude. Her illustrious rodeo career features many highlights, but what many people don’t know is that notwithstanding all of her successes, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an obstacle that Pozzobon faces, quietly, head-on. With multiple championships, Pozzobon has been “in-the-money,” many times. Despite her many accomplishments, Pozzobon remains humble and hardworking. She is a frequent contender in futurities and derbies across the continent and continually develops her skills as a trainer, competitor, and ambassador. Pozzobon has worked tirelessly to establish both her name and the reputation of her stock in the rodeo industry. Undoubtedly, Pozzobon has achieved this goal and continues to set new aspirations, daily. Her incredible band of barrel racing prospects and proven-performers is a testament to her standing and ultimately highlights her direction in the industry. Q. What does the CPRA award “2021 Cowgirl of the Year” mean to you? A. It’s a huge honour. I love the community that surrounds the sport of rodeo. We are like a competitive family. It’s an honour that my
peers recognized my struggle and saw my determination. Learning to compete with MS, I pushed through several struggles this year, both physically and mentally. They recognized that I wasn’t giving up. I woke-up every day and kept pushing to do what I love, no matter what I was going through. Q. What are your top five career highlights? A. Each accomplishment is a milestone when you’re working with horses. I’m grateful to share several titles with my horses and choosing five is a challenge. Certainly, Ripp being chosen as the Canadian Barrel Horse of the Year, twice, remains meaningful and speaks to her caliber. Together, we finished fourth in the world. Currently, her lifetime earnings are greater than $414,000 and she stands in the top 25 horses of the decade. For myself, earning multiple highpoint barrel futurity championships, with several horses, is another great accomplishment. Competing in the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) and reaching a lifelong goal of being titled a National Finals Rodeo (NFR) Barrel Racing Champion is a memory that I’ll strive to repeat. More than anything, being chosen by my peers as Canada’s Cowgirl of the Year is truly significant, especially this year. Q. How has the last year modified your rodeo career, given COVID restrictions and a recent MS diagnosis? A. With COVID pretty much shutting down Canada for rodeos it slowed competitions. I aimed to build more horses and learn more about MS. My fiancé and I used the time-off to build a house and finally have a home base, which is amazing. I pushed myself to learn as much as possible, understand this disease, and appreciate what my new limits are. I feel like we were successful through COVID and this new diagnosis. I’ve always wanted my own facility to train out of, and these factors made me slow
down enough to be home and establish it. Now that we have done that, I feel ready to get back out there and run for the CFR and NFR again. We have also had time to breed our stallion and harvest embryos from Ripp – more prospects are on the way. Q. What symptoms led to your diagnosis of MS? A. It all came-on really quickly. I lost mobility and feeling in my right leg and left arm/ hand. It was scary at first, but I got used to it. After some treatment, the mobility came back slowly but some of the symptoms, such as the tingling and numbness in my legs and arm, will not likely go-away, according to doctors. I feel like I’ve got used to it. It’s my new-normal and it doesn’t hold me back anymore, as long as I have my balance, of course. Q. How does MS impact your routine and influence your ability to achieve your goals? A. The MS symptoms come-on hard from stress or tiredness. I can’t do the long-night drives anymore, run on fumes and still be as successful as I once was. It comes in waves. I approach things day by day. I’ll push through a lot of it, but I also know my limits, from doing that. Now, I listen to my body better and make sure that I get the right amount of rest to function at my best. Q. What MS treatments have you tried and what has been the most helpful? A. Treatments are all a work in progress. I’ve used steroids for big flare-ups, to bring the nerve pain down. I’ve also cleaned my blood and refined my diet. I try to do chiropractic regularly, to stay on-top of keeping things working right. Tens machines help for temporary relief, to get through bad days, but adequate rest is huge. I’m going in for my first Modified Disease Treatment (MDT) infusion soon, which has a 92% rate of stopping new lesions from coming forward. This treatment will slow down the progression of the disease and help me live a full life, longer. Q. How do you maintain a “pozzytive” state of mind? A. I’ve never really learned how to give up on anything. If something tries to slow me down, I take a run at it from a different angle. I believe it’s in my genes. I’m not very good at sitting around. I’ll always find a way to reach my goals, no matter what comes at me. Sometimes, it just takes stepping-back, looking at the full-picture and planning the right route to get there. I believe in manifesting your end goal enough that you will make it happen. Otherwise, you should die trying – which I would rather do than sip tea in a chair, watching someone else win.
Q. Considering your career to date, what horses are you most proud of? 1) Cody and Pete – Two geldings that brought me up and taught me in my childhood years. Both were my dad’s team roping horses that I made into barrel horses. 2) “Phoenix” (Registered name, He Can Walk The Walk) – A bay gelding that I first won the Canadian Futurity High-Point on. We also qualified for National High School Finals. 3) “Vegas” - A black mare that I named after the home of the NFR, because we were going to make it there (I’ve been manifesting the NFR for a long time). I trained her to sell Phoenix and keep going after my goals. Unfortunately, she broke her leg during a
owner didn’t get along with her. This was back when everyone thought, “If they buck, Carman can handle it.” She tried to buck me off at one of our first events. We continuedon and won with each other. She filled my WPRA permit and started me on the route to chasing my first CFR. I had to sell her, to afford to carry on and season Ripp. 7) “Ripp” (Registered name, Ripn Lady) – My buckskin, heart-horse sired by Frenchs Hula Guy. She’s the star that solidified my goals for the CFR, the NFR and, likely many more to come. Ripp is amazing. She’s just as gritty as me. She’s always ready to show-up for us, anywhere that I decide to pull her out. We will go down trying for each other, that’s for sure. 8) “Rime” (Registered name, Rimes Girl) - A sorrel mare, sired by Frenchs Hula Guy. She did very well in her futurity year with me and I sold her to Kyla Simmons. She continues to help Kyla chase her dreams. 8) “Streaker” (Registered name, A Streaking Hula) – My buckskin stallion, sired by Frenchs Hula Guy, who started our breeding program. He’s the perfect cross, with A Streak Of Fling bloodlines. Streaker has been my babysitter while I’ve been learning to live with MS. He’s had multiple 1D wins and has earned both futurity and derby money. I love his disposition and admire how willing he is. I’ve had many great horses, and each has brought me to where I am today.
“Growing up in a family that is deeply rooted in rodeo and horse sports, it’s no wonder I started training my own horses at the age of 13. Even then, I wanted to be the best in the world. I wanted to prove the horses I trained. I wanted my horses and myself to be recognized on the world stage.” ~ Carman Pozzobon run and had to be put down. For about two weeks, I thought that I was done with the sport. I then bought three more colts and trained them to sell and move forward. 4) “Jagger” - A grey gelding and client horse. I trained and won the BCBRA finals on Jagger before we sold him. 5) “Smoken” (Registered name, SAQ Cowboys Pine) – A grey gelding who helped me through a huge tragedy in my life. Together, we won multiple 1D titles and even the Reserve Canadian Barrel Futurity Highpoint. I sold him to get back on my feet and he went on to pack his new owners to the Indian National Finals and College National Finals Rodeos. 6) “French Fry” (Registered name, Eyesa Hula Lady) – My first Frenchs Hula Guy offspring and the one that started my love for them. She came to me because her previous
Q. What are the key elements of your “team?” A. I have a great team behind me and my horses. There are many people and products that help us stay positive and compete with energized, healthy movement. It truly takes a village to keep everything rolling. I’m grateful for an incredible list of people and products that help me chase my dreams! Q. What are your goals for the next few years? A. I would like to hit the rodeo-trail and make it back to the CFR, NFR, and American. I plan to run my other, up-coming, buckskin stallion, Pac Man and bring him along to become a solid rodeo contender. We will run at the Pink and Ruby Buckle and many more great futurities. He’s out of Ripn Lady and by Slick by Design. Both of his parents are in the top 25 horses of the decade and stand as titled, NFR money earners. I’m excited to run him and start breeding him too.
January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 21
Western Foodie
Spiced Squash Soup By MIKE EDGAR & JENN WEBSTER
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This creamy, cold weather soup is the ultimate in comfort food. Make it ahead and save in the freezer to suit a busy schedule, or serve it as an appetizer to really wow your family at dinner. This hearty soup combines the sweetness of butternut squash from the garden with a whipped, goat cheese finish that neutralizes the soup’s cayenne kick – offering a blend of flavours that are sure to chase the winter blues away.
INGREDIENTS
1 kgs Butternut Squash, Peeled and Diced 1 Onion, Chopped 4 Cloves of Garlic 2 Tbsp. Ground Turmeric 2 Tbsp. Ground Ginger 2 Tbsp. Ground Coriander 1 Tsp. Cayenne Pepper 2/3 Tbsp. Olive Oil 1/2 cup Brown Sugar 2 L Chicken Stock 500 ml Heavy Cream Nasturtium for Garnish 1 cup Raw Pumpkin Seeds 1 Tsp. of Olive Oil Salt & Pepper 1 cup Whipping Cream 100 grams Soft Goat Cheese 2 Tbsp. Chives
January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 23
METHOD Prep and chop all of your vegetables up (squash, onions, garlic and chives.) Toss the onions, garlic and squash together with seasonings, olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Grill in a large, cast-iron skillet, or roast in the oven at 400-degrees Fahrenheit until the squash is tender. Depending on how you cut your squash, this process could take anywhere from 10-25 minutes. Puree the roasted squash mixture when cooked.
Either grill or roast the squash, vegetables and seasonings together until tender.
Finalized, roasted squash. 24 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
Meanwhile, mix the pumpkin seeds with olive oil and salt and pepper. Roast in the oven at 400-degrees Fahrenheit until the seeds turn brown.
Next, whip the whipping cream on high until you achieve stiff peaks. Add the goat cheese and chives and whip until incorporated. Set aside for the moment. Add the pureed squash mixture to chicken stock in a large pot and stir together on the stove. Add 500 ml of heavy cream and brown sugar and bring to a boil. Taste and check for flavour – if it is not to your liking, you may want to add a little more seasoning.
Put the soup into individual bowls and top with a spoonful of the whipped goat cheese mixture. Sprinkle each bowl neatly with toasted pumpkin seeds. Top with a few pieces of nasturtium, for a beautiful finish.
About the Chef: Mike Edgar graduated from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in the Culinary Arts. He stayed in Calgary, AB working at some of the city’s top restaurants. In 2007, he opened his own restaurant in Calgary’s east end. After eight years of being a chef there, Edgar decided to take a step back and left the industry to spend more time with his son. His son has now expressed an interest in learning his father’s skills and in horses simultaneously. January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 25
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DEDICATED & DIVERSE F Equestrians who refuse to be pigeon-holed by a single discipline. Story & Photos by Kirk Prescott, BAR XP PHOTO
ast, fierce, and friendly are three terms that loosely describe adventurous equestrians. Regardless of discipline, most thrill-seeking horsemen enjoy activities with an element of speed and an appreciation for quality horsemanship. Often surrounded by a band of likeminded individuals, these upbeat athletes are equally attracted to unique and invigorating experiences. Undoubtedly, diversified horsemen and horsewomen have a voracious thirst for knowledge and a keen eye for the perfect team. Loosen your cinch and sit-deep, as we interview four multi-disciplined equestrians who enjoy various equine pursuits. January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 27
Wendy
Williams (Stony Plain, AB)
A horse woman with an enchanting personality, Wendy Williams is an accomplished equestrian with a passion for competition and cool little horses. Williams is a gifted hand in the show ring who has a new-found love of driving Welsh Ponies. To date, she has National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Lifetime Earnings (LTE) that exceeds $35,000. Williams’ list of titles strings back to her childhood and her passion for equine pursuits has only grown with experience. Most recently, Williams became hitched to a passion for combined driving. She was the 2021 Overall High Point Champion of the Alberta Carriage Driving Association. Her Welsh Pony mare, Alvesta Mona Lisa stands 12.2 hands high and boasts a smart, sassy personality with a desire to perform. Williams enjoys all aspects of horsemanship and revels in the fact that she has her “unhorse” husband, of 33 years, now involved with horses. Williams enjoys riding at home, hauling to trail rides, and competing in both reining and combined driving events. She prefers to raise her own horses, but remains thankful for those that she has purchased, along the way. This Lego-loving fan of West Highland Terriers is ultimately drawn to horses of all sizes.
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“I always look for a horse with great conformation and a very willing disposition. I want my horses to like people and find if they are drawn to people, they have a will to please. That makes training them so much easier.”
HD2 Video Submitted by participant taken by Kevin Flynn
Q. Across the disciplines you explore, what elements of horsemanship remain consistent? A. “Always put the well-being of the animal first, and patience – always have patience.”
Q. What are the benefits, for you and your mount(s), of participating in multiple disciplines? A. “There are many similarities in reining and driving. I think my years reining have helped me understand the precision of combined driving, especially the dressage element. I also believe that both disciplines require great focus and that has made me a better rider and driver.”
horse and trying something new. That is how I got into reining when I was young, and now, with the driving. I had a pony I felt would be fun to try driving. Her physical attributes and her disposition seemed to make it a match for her. I believe as a horse person, you need to help your horse find its job. I don’t force one to become something it isn’t suited for.”
Q. How do you prepare your horse both physically and mentally for different activities? A. “I try to introduce them to new activities with lots of time
to adjust. I need them to trust me and what I am asking them
Q. What discipline has presented the greatest challenge to you as a horsewoman? A. “I think reining is a great challenge. It looks so easy from
the grandstand. Yet, when you are sitting on that horse in the middle of the arena, there are so many things that can happen. I think that is why I was drawn to combined driving. It has the dressage element, which is precise like reining. Then, you add the cones course which combines speed with precision. Lastly, the marathon combines speed, precision and conditioning. Combined driving demands a great deal from the equine and the driver.”
Q. As an equestrian, what brings you joy?
A. “Being with horses every day and the people they have brought into my life.”
Submitted by participant taken by Rick Kroll
Q. How do you decide what to do with your horse? A. “I love to learn. So, I am always interested in taking my
to do. Physically, I make sure they are fit for the task. I work with them 12 months of the year, and if they have had time off, I take time to bring them back into condition before I ask them to perform at a competitive level.”
January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 29
Lucas
Garret (Calgary, AB)
From the show ring to the Stampede grounds, Lucas Garret has a passion for winning that keeps him active in several equine disciplines. At an early age, Garret’s mom nurtured his love of horses and even started the Golden Pony Club at their family farm in Golden, BC. Garret took a small break from the horse scene, while attending college in Kelowna, BC, but always had a growing itch to get back in the saddle. Settling in Calgary, AB, Garret continues to enjoy cattle penning, roping, ranchriding, skijoring, sorting, and show jumping. He noted, “A significant achievement for me this past summer was being part of a cattle penning team that won a buckle at Calgary Stampede. It was a long-term goal that came together so much sooner than I had anticipated, and I’ll never forget that.” His main mounts include Pipes, Delilah, and Luna who are chosen for their mindset and talents in penning, show jumping and skijoring/roping respectively. Out of the saddle, Garret can often be found on a sled, in the mountains, or travelling. He’s no stranger to riding horses abroad and enjoys meeting new people and exploring new places, often linked to equine encounters.
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“When it all comes together with your horse, your teammates and a little bit of luck and you take home that buckle, ribbon, and/or prize money it feels like you are on top of the world!”
Submitted by particiant taken by MDS
Submitted by Amanda Ubell Submitted by Lucas Garret
Q. How do you prepare your horse both physically and mentally for different activities? A. “Practice and Feed. While practicing, your horse is getting Q. Across the disciplines you explore, what elements of horsemanship remain consistent? A. “The horses come first.” Q. What are the benefits, for you and your mount(s), of participating in multiple disciplines? A. “There are a lot of crossover skills – horsemanship and good balance being two that come to mind. My competitive horses also go into the mountains for trail rides. I find that keeps the mind fit, as well as the physical body, for both horse and rider.”
Q. How do you decide what to do with your horse? A. “I look for the three T’s – talent, type and temperament.
You may have more strength in two of these categories, but you must have a minimum, in the third, as well. For example, penning horses should be naturally ‘cowy’ (talent). They need to be correct in conformation, to handle the pressure of quick turns and instant stops/starts (type). They benefit from a mind that can deal with different situations and repetitive activities (temperament). In a show jumper, I look for a different horse, conformationally, but still evaluate the three T’s.”
prepared both mentally and physically for your activity of choice. Having a good trainer, who can help you with practices and drills, can do wonders. Determining the correct diet for each horse is also extremely important. Not all horses and not all feeds are created equal so it can be a bit of a challenge to create the optimum feed type and schedule for everyone.”
Q. What discipline has presented the greatest challenge to you as a horseman? A. “Lately, it has been getting back into show jumping. Since I don’t have a seasoned horse, who has been there and done that, trying to learn and train, at the same time, has been a challenge.”
Q. As an equestrian, what brings you joy? A. “It’s universal across all of the disciplines, for me…
Winning. When it all comes together, with your horse, your teammates, and a little bit of luck, and you take home that buckle, ribbon, and/or prize money, it feels like you are on top of the world! Having said that, just being around horses brings me joy, all on its own – I trail ride for the sheer love of being out on a horse, in the outdoors, either alone or with friends.” January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 31
Jill
Barron (Sunnynook, AB)
A charismatic coach and cowgirl from hardgrass country, Jill Barron has tried her hand in various equine pursuits. From the ranching lifestyle that she loves, to bright-lights and busy arenas, this equestrian has competed, coached, and performed on stages of all kinds. Her vast portfolio includes dressage, working equitation, team-roping, breakaway-roping, working cow horse, colt-starting and ranching. While Barron, loves to rope, her schedule doesn’t always allow the time. Barron competed in the 2021, Heart of the Horse, Colt Starting Competition, and notes that she keeps few mounts long-term. She describes herself as extremely fortunate to have swung a leg over numerous, amazing horses, but one steed remains her tried, tested and true. Steveo, a blaze faced, bay mare is Barron’s right-hand, goto mount. She’s literally done everything. Barron has a keen list of criteria when choosing horses and pays close attention to their structure, movement, and mind. When considering build, the list is also intricate, but Barron prefers horses that are easy movers, handy with their feet and smooth. This cowgirl can move, herself, and even played post-secondary basketball. A natural with children, Barron enjoys coaching and hosting equestrian-based camps. She taught grade seven for five years and was spotted, more than once, riding her street bike to work. From Sunnynook to Portugal, Barron has showcased her equestrian skills worldwide.
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“When I first laid eyes on a Portuguese rider competing in working equitation, I was enamoured by the high level of horsemanship needed to compete at the highest level. To me it is the holy grail of horsemanship.”
Submitted by Billie Jean Duff
really try and make things confusing for themselves and their horse. Good horsemanship is good horsemanship, no matter the tack you are in or the breed of horse you are riding. I don’t change my riding whether I am in dressage tack doing a pirouette or in a western saddle roping a steer. Timing, feel, and balance are the three most important factors when training a horse. You have to be able to think like a horse and stay one step ahead of them, at all times.”
Q. What are the benefits, for you and your mount(s), of participating in multiple disciplines? A. “Keeping things fresh. Exercising the mind and body in
different ways. I have always believed the horse was built, and is happier, doing many different jobs. I like that when I halter my horse, they don’t know what their job might be that day. They meet me at the gate every day, eager to tackle the task ahead of them. I enjoy doing many different jobs just like my horses. I get to figure out a plan as to best prepare my horse. Every experience I can give them, that is positive, will build their confidence. That’s a huge goal in my training program. Positive experiences that gently push them out of their comfort zone yet build confidence. Confident horses will go into battle for their riders.”
Q. How do you decide what to do with your horse? A. “I try and do everything I can with all my horses. Some
are better than others at certain jobs, but I want them to have that experience on their resume. I haven’t ridden many that didn’t rise to the challenge ahead of them. I am lucky to have a handful of horses to pick from. I choose the horse that best fits the experience. I am diligent with my young horses and am careful in choosing when they get to do certain jobs.”
Q. How do you prepare your horse both
physically and mentally for different activities? A. “Me: Physically – fitness. Strength. Most people aren’t
physically fit enough to get their horse to do the things they are asking or to outlast them. I made a commitment to getting stronger and noticed a notable improvement in my training. Fitness has been an addiction, ever since. We are our horse’s greatest roadblocks. GET FIT!
Submitted by Rod Sinclair
Q. Across the disciplines you explore, what elements of horsemanship remain consistent? A. “The elements of horsemanship do not change. People
Mentally – I prepare my horses and am realistic about their skill set. This allows me to have a plan for the activity. Realize there are elements with horses you can’t control. Have a clear plan but also be able to deviate from the plan. Train your mind. Our thoughts are our own worst enemy. Have ice water running through your veins. From playing elite sports, I have a competitive edge. I thrive under pressure.” “Horse: Physically – Fitness and gymnastic activities. Lots of outside miles accompany my horse’s arena work. My training program works on teaching a horse to be balanced and engage proper muscles. My belief is that when a horse is balanced and using themselves properly, they will last longer. I like my horses to be very physically fit. Hence the importance of good horsemanship, to ensure the longevity of your equine partner. Also, helps to have a good team behind your horse. A good farrier and vet are crucial for your horse’s success. Nutrition is also key. Horses are fine-tuned athletes and need to be treated as such. I make sure they are well versed in their training, confident and are physically fit. That horse will do any job you ask it to do. Mentally – I do a lot to prepare my horses mentally. Most of the times this is harder to develop than the physical aspect and is greatly overlooked. I believe this work needs to start at a young age. Horses are thinkers by nature, and it is important we exercise that part of them as much as their body.
Q. What discipline has presented the greatest challenge to you as a horsewoman? A. ““Dressage and working equitation. When I first laid eyes on a Portuguese rider competing in working equitation, I was enamoured by the high level of horsemanship needed to compete at the highest level. To me it is the holy grail of horsemanship. It was what made me fall in love with the Lusitano breed as well.
Q. As an equestrian, what brings you joy? A. “I honestly experience the most joy when I swing a leg over
a horse. It’s in my blood. I feel lost without horses. I really enjoy starting colts. Spending that time laying the foundation for the rest of their life is so important and rewarding. As a coach, it’s seeing my students succeed and helping them understand and enjoy their horses. As a trainer, it’s having my horses succeed and strive to be better every ride. January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 33
Sam
Mitchell (Millarville, AB)
Skill, style, and speed all come to mind when summarizing accomplished horsewoman, Sam Mitchell. Trying her hand in anything equine related, Mitchell continually adds to her profile of achievements. Training colts, cutting, cross country jumping, trail-riding, side-saddle racing, skijoring, and playing polo all add to her diverse portfolio. Mitchell’s innate desire to mingle fashion and festivity blends creatively with her love of all things equine. From Halloween hunts to stunning skijor sessions, this talented artisan and cordial competitor is no stranger to diverse equine pursuits. Mitchell approaches each discipline with a blend of patience and perfection. She is keen on choosing the appropriate mount for each task and ensures that her horse is well prepared, both mentally and physically. When speaking to qualities sought in equine teammates, Mitchell noted, “First and foremost, I look for heart. Try counts more than talent for me. Of course I’m looking for basic soundness and sanity but I’ll adjust a program to a horse’s physical capacity if he’s got the heart to show up and try for us.” Founder of Skijor Canada, Mitchell is drawn to anything adrenaline infused, especially when delectable eats and sartorial creativity are included. Mitchell is a culinary creative who also expresses her artistic talents by repurposing tack into fashionable accessories. This worldly traveler has backed horses around the globe and has hosted many travelling equine enthusiasts, in return.
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“Learning new disciplines keeps things fresh and fun for both of us. It motivates me to spend more time with my horses and search out mentors to help me, which always yields new training tools that I can apply across the board.”
Q. What are the benefits, for you and your mount(s), of participating in multiple disciplines? A. “Learning new disciplines keeps things fresh and fun for Submitted by Amanda Ubell Submitted by Danny Hagen
Q. Across the disciplines you explore, what elements of horsemanship remain consistent? A. “First, the importance of soundness. It sounds obvious,
but I’ve had horses that were so tough they wouldn’t show me they were hurting. Paying attention to their herd dynamics, how they stand at rest, how they hold their ears and tails and whether they’re scrunching up their chins or noses, can give you insight into how they’re feeling. The first thing I do with a horse who’s new to me is a basic vet, dental and chiropractic check. He’s got to feel 100% to be happy in work. Second, the value of a solid foundation. I think of a foundation like a language we both need to speak so we can communicate effectively. The better we understand that language, the more subtle and nuanced we can be with our cues. Regardless of the horse’s age/experience when I get him, I start with groundwork which helps me understand what’s easy for him and what’s challenging, both physically and mentally. Third, play to your strengths! I look for what the horse enjoys and has natural ability for, then decide whether I’m the best person to help him do that, and if not, who is. Fourth, quit when it’s good. If you can’t find good, go back to something you know your horse can do well and quit there. Especially with talented, willing horses, it’s tempting to ask more and more of them. It’s our responsibility not to push them hard. Finally, don’t micromanage. Letting a horse make mistakes gives me an opportunity to teach him what’s right so he can make that choice independently, which helps him trust himself.”
both of us. It motivates me to spend more time with my horses and search out mentors to help me, which always yields new training tools that I can apply across the board. My horses love their jobs. They’re interested in what they’re doing and so responsive to positive feedback. I think they enjoy success over a big jump or a blisteringly fast run, just as much as I do.”
Q. How do you decide what to do with your
horse? A. “The first thing I’ll look at is his conformation/movement
and whether he’s built for the job. Next, I’ll get him fit and assess whether he’s got the temperament for it and determine what aspects I might need to help him with. Then I’ll try the thing and see if he likes it. If it’s not enjoyable for both of us, I’ll try something else. Jumping cross country fences or barreling down a polo field on a horse who doesn’t really want to do it, is not my idea of fun.”
Q. How do you prepare your horse both physically and mentally for different activities? A. “Physically, having a good vet, farrier, dentist and
chiropractor is essential. Also, quality feed, ideally grass, and a good fitness program is key. I do a lot of walking, trotting and hill work to build muscle, then loping/breezing to build wind. It’s my job to set the horse up for success. If he never learns to fail, he doesn’t know he can. I break the goal down into components and ensure he can handle them separately before I combine them. When I have that foundation laid, I can make a big ask if I need to. Sometimes, we’re in a situation that requires it, and the horse will step-up because he trusts me. Maybe also because he knows he’ll get a big bunch of carrots! Mentally, I think turnout is so important. Horses need to socialize. I’ll utilize herd dynamics to sort an issue out. For example, I’ll pair a solid, old ranch-horse with a nervous, offtrack Thoroughbred to help him settle. I may even put one of the boss mares in with a gelding who thinks he’s a big deal, so she can take him down a peg or two.”
Q. What discipline has presented the greatest challenge to you as a horsewoman? A. “Polo is definitely the biggest challenge for me. Correct
swing mechanics/form are crucial yet so counterintuitive. The harder/faster you try to hit the ball, the more velocity/power you bleed. I’ve never played a racket or team sport before and I’m not naturally athletic, so it’s a steep learning curve. Then you’ve got your game strategy, trying not to let your teammates down. Everything happens at a flat gallop which is, at once, exhilarating, and chaotic. I struggle to slow my mind down and think my way through plays, rather than panic and flail ineffectually. Oh yeah, and you need a smart, broke, fit horse. That takes a bit of work too!”
Q. As an equestrian, what brings you the most joy? A. “When I whistle and the whole herd gallops in with ears pricked to see what we’re doing today.”
January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 35
Natalie Jackman, www.have-dog.com
COMING IN HOTT
Add a little hot sauce to your herd! Red Hott Cat proves his mettle as a leading Canadian cutter and an up-and-coming sire.
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hen Rick Perkins of British Columbia first learned of the stallion Red Hott Cat (RHC) coming available for purchase as a two-year-old, he jumped at the opportunity. Perkins had long been set on buying a red roan stallion so when he was shown “Tabasco” advertised on Facebook by his daughter Brittany Friesen, he immediately called the owner. The horse was bought sight unseen by Rick, wife Cheryl and Brittany. Tabasco is sired by Metallic Cat and out of Little Baby Sister (Dual Pep x San Jo Pat). Prior to acquiring him, the Perkins family only ever had owned one other gelding in the 36 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
By Jenn Webster
cutting arena, a horse named Damascus Cat that they had in training with professional, Travis Rempel. Hence, the family was relatively new to the cutting scene. Immediately following the purchase, Rick and Cheryl Perkins and Brittany Friesen (Perkins) flew to Texas to catch one of the big cutting shows and officially meet their new stallion. It was love at first sight. The decision was made to leave Tabasco in training in Texas for the rest of his two-yearold year. Rick and Cheryl then flew down for the 2016 National Cutting Horse Association futurity and Tabasco was brought back to his new home in Canada, then put into training with Rempel.
The trainer began prepping the stallion for big Futurity events; Idaho, Black Elk, the Canadian Supreme and the Calgary Stampede. Tabasco ended up winning the second go-round of the Calgary Stampede Futurity with a 219 and followed that up with a 221 in the finals for the win. “He is a horse that anybody would be proud to own,” says Rick. “I love to watch him. He is so strong, stops so hard and is so fluid in the front end. He’s an absolute pleasure to watch.” Tabasco ended his futurity year with over $35,000 in NCHA earnings and he left a lasting impression on the Canadian cutting scene.
A LAUDED PEDIGREE
Sired by the legendary Metallic Cat, Lifetime Earnings (LE) of $637,711 and Progeny Earnings (PE) of $33 million, Tabasco has a lot going for him. As if that weren’t enough, his dam, Little Baby Sister also has her own LTE of $22,834 and PE of over $1.4 million. Recently, Tabasco’s 2019 full sister sold at the Western Bloodstock Sale in Fort Worth, TX, for $500,000 to Teton Ridge. The Perkins family discloses that their stunning, red roan stallion is also very mischievous and full of personality. “He’s the type of horse who buries his head in your hair, looking for a pet or attention. He loves getting therapeutic massages and work done and he’s the type of stud that could be loped in a pen full of 50 horses, prior to entering the show pen and not bat an eye,” they chuckle. Rempel praised the horse early on for being, “…really smart about a cow and pretty easy to train.” Since his futurity year, Tabasco has continually proven himself to be very levelminded, easy to ride and built for his job. “He’s so smooth and easy to sit when he stops and turns hard,” explains breeding manager, Chelsey Perkins. “He has even been ridden up in the back country and leads the way with a good gait, as he’s motivated to see the country. He’s a true joy to ride!” Currently, Tabasco has NCHA earnings of $72,244. His biggest win was at the Stampede, however the horse has many other credentials to his name. This includes placing extremely high in many aged events in Canada like winning the $25K Novice Horse division, Day 1, at the 2020 Silver Slate August show and both days in the $25K Novice Horse at the 2020 Alberta Cutting Horse July Jammin’ Show, with trainer Dustin Gonnet in the stirrups. He also placed in the Top 5 of his region in 2020 by the NCHA, after being shown all year long by Gonnet. Currently Tabasco is one of the top earning NCHA stallions in aged events in Canada.
THE FUTURE Tabasco’s first, official foal crop hit the ground running in 2021. The Perkins family is excited to report his foals have all inherited great conformation with a lot of bone, strong hips, straight legs and great athleticism. “We are retiring him sound so he has many pleasurable and comfortable years left, siring future champions,” explains Chelsey. The stallion has attracted mares in various
RED HOTT CAT Red Hott Cat foals are demonstrating great conformation with a lot of bone, strong hips, straight legs and great athleticism.
Foals sired by Red Hott Cat will be eligible for a special incentive.
different sports / disciplines including cutting, working cow horse, barrel racing, team penning and sorting, roping and ranch horses. Chelsey says a big foal crop is coming in 2022. “RHC is siring foals all across North America! He has had a very high conception rate, thanks to his high semen potency,” she relays. This year (2022) is the first year they will be offering fresh, in addition to frozen semen on the stallion. The Perkins family / Sherrick Holdings Ltd. will be selling a limited amount of RHC foals, cow-bred in the years to come. They are also offering their own incentive to RHC foals, as $5,000 will be awarded to the highest NCHA earning RHC foal showing in its futurity year (for the years 2024 / 2025 / and 2026). Additionally, Tabasco is nominated to The Breeders Elite Incentive and The Canadian Barrel Horse Incentive. For more information or for contract inquiries, please contact Chelsey Perkins at info@redhottcat.com, 250-819-1435 or visit the website at: www.redhottcat.com.
NCHA LTE $72,244.93
• 2017 Calgary Stampede, Futurity Champion, shown by Travis Rempel. • 2017 Canadian Supreme Cutting Horse Open Futurity Finalist, 2017 Idaho Cutting Horse Open Futurity Finalist (tied for second in the second go-round), with Travis Rempel. • 2018 Silver Slate Open Derby Champion, 2018 Silver Slate May Madness Open Derby Champion, with Travis Rempel. • 2019 Canadian Spectacular 5/6 Reserve Champion, 2019 Black Elk Spring Classic Reserve Aggregate Champion (placed first and second in go-rounds), with Travis Rempel. • 2019 Calgary Stampede Cutting Horse Open Finalist, with Travis Rempel. • 2020 Canadian Spectacular Reserve Champion, with Dustin Gonnet. • 2020 Black Elk Spectacular third in aggregate for 25k NH, with Dustin Gonnet. • 2020 Silver Slate August aged show, won $25k NH, Day 1, with Dustin Gonnet. • 2020 Alberta Cutting Horse July Jammin’ Show, won both days in 25k NH, with Dustin Gonnet. • 2020 placed in Top 5 in his region by the NCHA (shown all
year by Dustin Gonnet).
January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 37
2021 Canadian Finals Rodeo Coverage CFR 47 - BACK IN BUSINESS
The Canadian Finals Rodeo returns with historic beginnings, nail-biting competition and dreams fulfilled. By PIPER WHELAN Photos by COVY MOORE
38 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
“
It’s exciting that women get another event here in the CPRA and all of pro rodeo.
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~ Kendal Pierson
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Jared Parsonage was the only cowboy to cover five of six bulls during the CFR. Parsonage earned his highest score on Outlaw Buckers’ OLS Tubs Homegrown and was crowned the 2021 Canadian Bulll Riding Champion.
hen Kendal Pierson
was crowned the first-ever Canadian Breakaway Roping Champion, her historic victory signalled the beginning of a new day for Canadian women in professional rodeo. One of the six breakaway roping finalists competing for the first time in the regular performances of the 2021 Canadian Finals Rodeo, the young cowgirl from Wardlow, AB, captured the Canadian title and the aggregate with an overall score of 6.26 seconds in three rounds. “It means a lot to be the first one, and just to see where it’s going to go,” said Pierson, who spoke highly of the efforts to create more opportunities for women in the sport. “It’s exciting that women get another event here in the CPRA and all of pro rodeo.” The grade 12 student, who plans to study and rope in the U.S. after graduation, became the 2021 National High School Champion Breakaway Roper earlier in the year. She cred-
its her horse, Smoke, originally purchased as a ranch horse six years ago, as a major part of her winning ways. “I barrel raced and pole bended on him actually first, and then I started my breakaway roping, and even since then he’s been a key to all my success,” she explained. “He’s my partner, and I wouldn’t be able to be here without him.” The addition of breakaway roping, which continues to explode in popularity across North America, to the Canadian Finals opens further possibilities for little girls who picture themselves on the professional stage one day. And, as Pierson adds, it’s not just the next generation of ropers who can dream bigger about their futures in pro rodeo. “Even in our field of breakaway ropers… some of them thought that they were going to be done after college, and now they’re here, roping at the CFR,” she said. “For all ages, it’s just opportunities that no one could have imagined.”
That sense of optimism was in the air as Canada’s top rodeo event returned for its 47th edition at Westerner Park in Red Deer, AB, in November 2021, two years after the last CFR. The excitement for this long-awaited celebration of rodeo was evident in everyone from the fans in the audience to the contestants themselves. “I’m so grateful for the season we did get to have, and that year off really, really made you think about what rodeo does for you,” said Justine Elliott, the 2021 Canadian Barrel Racing Champion. “It’s just great to be back with everyone again and doing what we love.” Elliott, who was raised at Lacombe, AB, came into the finals as the 2021 season leader. Riding the two-time CPRA Barrel Racing Horse with the Most Heart, Blondys Starlight (Blondy), Elliott rose to the occasion in a tight race that resulted in her winning the aggregate as well as her first Canadian title. “I just knew I had to make a clean run, and
January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 39
I knew Blondy was going to work good. I just had to help her, and she did it,” she said of the sixth and final round. Blondy was purchased by Elliott’s brother from the Canadian Supreme sale as a working cow horse hopeful, but the mare hit her stride when she began turning barrels. “She instantly took to it, and she’s literally made the exact same run since she was a four-year-old up to now,” Elliott recalled. Winning the Canadian championship so close to home added greater meaning to Elliott’s accomplishment. “This pretty well being my hometown rodeo makes it extremely special because I have a whole bunch of friends and family here, and it really does make it a bigger deal,” she said. “I’ve been dreaming about this since I was probably five-year-old. I truly never thought it was going to happen, but here we are.” Justine Elliott, 2021 Canadian Barrel Racing Champion.
Veteran Competitors add New Titles to Win Streaks Just as it was during the 2019 edition of CFR, no one could catch Zeke Thurston in the saddle bronc riding. The reigning Canadian champion and two-time World champion from Big Valley, AB, had the advantage of being the season leader, and after riding all six horses he took home his second Canadian championship and the aggregate. Thurston won two of the six rounds, with his highest score of the week being 88.25 points on Outlaw Buckers’ Little Muffin. “Kicking it off with a round win, that gets the ball rolling and then you can ride that wave into the rest of the week,” he said. “A big part of it is drawing good. I drew really good – some great horses – and my job is to make good rides on them, and I felt like I did that.”
For Thurston, who was gearing up for his next trip to the National Finals Rodeo at the time, being at the top of his game both physically and mentally play an important role in his bronc riding success. “Staying mentally sharp is probably the hardest thing, to keep your mind frame where you’re at the top and want to be the best in Canada, but the best in the world,” he explained. “There’s so many good bronc riders everywhere, so many good horses – there’s no shortcuts. You’ve got to do your job and ride good.” No stranger to the winner’s circle himself, Cody Cassidy captured his sixth Canadian Steer Wrestling title at CFR, tying the
Header Clay Ullery and heeler Tyce McLeod were the Team Roping Canadian Champions. 40 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
record set by his mentor, Hall of Famer Bud Butterfield. Winning the first round and tying for first in the sixth round pushed the veteran cowboy from Donalda, AB, past the rest of the competition, including aggregate winner Justin Miller of Virden, MB. “I got off to a good start, won the round the first night, and that set the tone and things were going good. And then of course Saturday afternoon, I had a steer that I knew was going to be tricky to catch, and I did everything that I thought I could do. Unfortunately, I ended up letting him slip through my grasp,” Cassidy explained. “But I came back with two good steers Saturday night and then this afternoon, so that made up for it, and the stars were aligned.” Cassidy rode the three-time CPRA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year, Dashin Haze (Tyson), owned by his brother Curtis. Along with the right horse for the job, Cassidy’s mindset was dialled in for competing at this level. “I try to prepare myself more mentally than I do anything,” he said. “Just because you’re here doesn’t mean you’re going to have the opportunity to win it. You still have to draw good… It can go both ways, but as long as you’re prepared to rise to the occasion when the opportunity presents itself, you’re going to do good.” As the reigning three-time Canadian High Point Champion, Riley Warren added the 2021 Canadian Tie Down Roping title to his collection of honours. The cowboy from Sundre, AB, was consistent throughout the week, with an aggregate time of 54.8 seconds
on six rounds to lead that race, too. In the team roping, Warren roped with Steele DePaoli and finished second to Champion Heeler Tyce McLeod. “It’s been by far my best CFR I’ve had to date,” said Warren. “I just took it one run at a time… I’m extremely happy to get two (titles). It’s not something a lot of guys have done, and I’m just extremely happy to be here and for everyone in the stands to see it, and that we actually had a CFR this year is amazing.” Warren’s horses played a key role in his strong performance at CFR 47, he said. His tie down roping horse is a 15-year-old mare named Mona. “I actually heeled on her at the last CFR they had here, so she’s been to the finals in two events, and she’s rock solid and a very honest horse,” he said. He bought his heel horse, Jag, from the loose pen at the Innisfail Auction Market. “He’s turned out to be kind of a special horse. He’s really matured, he’s nine-years-old now, and he’s extremely cowy.”
Clint Laye , 2021 Canadian Bareback Champion.
First-time Canadian Champs Savour Victories championship, with only almost $300 separating him from aggregate winner Ty Taypotat of Nanton, AB. “That kept it so fun,” said Laye, who enjoyed the tight race between the bareback contestants. “What I like to do the most is keep my mind off of it, and when it comes to bareback riding and being at a finals like this… I’m competing against myself.”
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Among the contestants winning their first Canadian titles was bull rider Jared Parsonage of Maple Creek, SK. The only cowboy to cover five of six bulls, Parsonage rode consistently, with his highest score of the week coming in the final round, 87.75 points on Outlaw Buckers’ OLS Tubs Homegrown. “It seems like it’s been quite a bit of work getting it, so I’m happy to finally get one,” Parsonage said after being named the 2021 champion and aggregate winner. “The bull riding was tough. It was a good set of bulls all week, and guys stepped up… Today, it kind of was in my hands. I had to ride, stay on to get in there and it all worked out for me.” While Parsonage was aware of the numbers throughout the week, he placed his focus on the task at hand. “At the end of the day, it’s simple as just get him rode, do a good job riding him and the rest will take care of itself,” he explained. “I knew that it was going to be a good bull riding, and at the same time I expected myself to ride.” Parsonage, who grew up team roping, had the opportunity to work both ends of the arena professionally in 2021, earning him his first Canadian All-Around Championship. “I’m pretty proud of that,” he said, noting that roping is an everyday skill on his family’s ranch in the Cypress Hills. “It’s one of those things that’s just part of life to me.” The race for the bareback title came down to the last round, with Clint Laye of Cadogan, AB, emerging victorious. An 87-point ride on C5 Rodeo’s Black Feathers won Laye the final round, pushing him to his first Canadian
It means everything. I’ve been working my life for one of these! ~ Clint Laye
The horse that helped him clinch the title made this achievement even more special for Laye. “I couldn’t have picked a better horse,” he said. “Me and that horse, we go way back… Darcy Hollingsworth actually raised that horse, I believe. When I was first starting to ride bareback horses, he would bring it to the practice pen in Stettler, so our careers have been side by side.” For Laye, who has been a strong contender in the bareback riding for several years, being able to achieve this dream made it a week to remember. “It means everything. I’ve been working my life at one of these,” he said. “Ever since I was a steer rider, I was trying to get a Canadian title and didn’t get one, and moved into the novice and never got one, and now I’m here at my sixth Canadian Finals and finally made it happen.” Consistency won the day in the team roping, where header Clay Ullery of Valleyview, AB
and heeler Tyce McLeod of Waldeck, SK, came into the Finals in 12th place and moved up through each round to take home the Canadian Championship and the aggregate positions. After an uncertain season and the “complete logistical disaster” of planning to rodeo on both sides of the border, as Ullery described it, winning their first Canadian titles was even sweeter. “I was rodeoing pretty hard in the States, and Tyce was too, and I didn’t really have a plan on coming up here at all. And then Strathmore (and) Medicine Hat were a go, we came and roped that week,” Ullery recalled. “We actually didn’t win one single dollar that week, and then we decided we’d come up to the last ten rodeos in September and we barely made the finals, and just went from there.” Despite the rocky road that led them to Red Deer, the two cowboys arrived at the outcome they wanted and were excited about the results of a week of good roping. “It’s amazing. Anytime you become a Canadian champ it feels amazing,” said McLeod. “It’s the greatest thing ever. Best feeling in the world.” In the novice division, Brodie Roessler of Fairview, AB, won the Novice Saddle Bronc championship, while Cruz McNulty of Biggar, SK, took home the Novice Bareback title. Kane Scott of Condor, AB, came to the top in the Junior Steer Riding championship. The Calgary Stampede captured two of the stock awards, with Agent Lynx winning the Bareback Horse of the CFR and Wild Cherry winning the Saddle Bronc Horse of the CFR. Sawyer Pro Rodeo’s Train Wreck was named the Bull of the CFR. WHR
January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 41
Dreams came true for a few worthy Canadians in 2021, as they reached some major milestones in big, international competitions. By Jenn Webster
Waltenberry
JESSE BECKLEY & TRASHINYURDREAMS 2021 NRHA Level 3 & 2 Open Futurity Champions For professional reining trainer Jesse Beckley of Cranbrook, BC, making the finals of the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Futurity Level 4 Open Finals was something he dreamed of for a long time. Having come very close a few times, only to miss it by a halfa-point, was something he was eager to put 42 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
behind him. Aboard the special horse named “Donald,” Beckley was able to do just that. Trashinyurdreams is sired by NRHA Five Million Dollar Sire Gunnatrashya out of This Chicsdundreamin, and owned by Norma Siebert. The pair did consistently well in the go-rounds of the NRHA Futurity held in Oklahoma City, OK, making a 220 each time. In the finals, Beckley and Donald marked a 222.5, advancing to the win of Levels 2 and
3, and placing fifth in the Level 4 Open. This earned the duo a total of $120,652. Both Jesse and his wife Deanna, had been very vocal on social media as the events took place, and the whole of Canada was excited to witness their dreams unfold. After the win, Jesse would state, “2021 What Dreams Are Made Of! What a year it’s been! It started out a little slow, with some of our shows canceled again just as they were in
2020. But I had a horse that would carry me to accomplishing a lifelong dream of mine. I know this horse inside and out and he was there every single time I called on him. He is nothing short of my best friend. Big thank you to my sponsors, owners, vets, farrier, family and friends for helping Donald and I get to this point. Cheers to a year I will never forget and onward to 2022.”
JADE WHITMARSH & NORTH SAIL SOLITAIRE Intermediate Non-Pro NAAC Champions
Waltenberry
Jade Whitmarsh of Cochrane, AB, and North Sail Solitaire had a heck of a showing at the 2021 Adequan® North American Affiliate Championships (NAAC), held in conjunction with the NRHA Futurity in Oklahoma City, OK. Sired by Top Sail Whiz and out of Solitary Gunner, North Sail Solitaire is owned by the Whitmarsh family / Willow Acres Quarter Horses. At the NAAC, the pair tied three ways for eighth place in the Bob’s Custom Saddles Intermediate Non-Pro Showdown with a score of 210.5. A run-off was used to determine the winner and in it, Whitmarsh and the 2013 sorrel stallion she refers to as “Cruz,” bested their original score by five points. The pair won the highly contested championship and a cheque for $5,000. “I would like to thank my parents for always supporting my dreams and to Austin Seelhof for the supportive coaching that got me in the pen,” said Whitmarsh. “I would also like to salute Cruz and his ability to always go in the pen with the most try and biggest heart. It was truly a dream come true!”
Jade Whitmarsh and North Sail Solitaire NAAC Int. Non-Pro Champions.
LINDSAY SODERBERG GEIGER & WITHOUT PERMISSION World Champions AQHA Level 2 Senior Hunter Under Saddle
Lindsay Soderberg Geiger and Without Permission. right:
Lindsay Soderberg Geiger and Without Permission.
Shane Rux
Professional rider Lindsay Soderberg Geiger of Red Deer County, AB, was able to cross one of her lifelong goals off her list when she won the World Championship of her Level 2 Senior Hunter Under Saddle class at the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Adequan Level 2 World Championships, held in Oklahoma City, OK. The event held October 28 to November 20, 2021 at the Oklahoma State Fair Grounds, features the epitome of Quarter Horses and their riders who have strived to be the best in their class all year long. Riding the 2015 gelding, Without Permission (barn name “Noah,”) Soderberg Geiger was able to secure the championship and coveted championship
January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 43
bronze. Noah is sired by The Ultimate Fancy and out of My Favorite Uncle 08, and owned by Stacey Stinson.
TYLER DARROCH & LSR ADDAROSA RIO NCHA World Top 15, 5th Place 5,000 Novice Horse
Professional trainer Tyler Darroch made the long trek from Yorkton, SK, to Fort Worth, TX, back in December 2021. Along with the mare, LSR Addarosa Rio (better known as “Rosa”), it wasn’t the first time the pair had put the miles in to achieve their goals. As there weren’t very many cutting shows in Saskatchewan in 2021, the duo travelled a fair amount to Alberta. They also hauled to British Columbia, South Dakota and finally, Texas after qualifying for the 5,000 Novice Horse division, held at the National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) World Finals. Then, in the second go of the 5,000 Novice Horse World Finals, Rosa and Darroch placed fifth which raised their overall world standings to 13th. Sired by Bobs Hickory Rio and of the mare, Starlit Oaks, Rosa is a home-bred mare and owned by Jill Rennie. “This mare is pretty special for two reasons,” explains Tyler’s wife, Nikki. “Tyler’s uncle, Neil and aunt, Louise raised Rosa – so they’ve been a big part of the journey with Tyler phoning Neil on the way home from every show for the past three years to give him updates. “This is also Rosa’s owner, Jill’s first cutting horse. Jill has been so supportive and encouraging throughout this entire journey and we can’t thank her enough for the opportunity she has given us. Of course, all the guys who have turned back throughout the year. Our vets for keeping Rosa feeling her best (Momentum Equine and Twin Valley Vet) and our farrier, Jim McDonald. Lastly, big thank-you to my mom, Marj for overseeing everything at home while we’ve been on the road.
Tyler Darroch and LSR Addarosa Rio
MORE HIGHLIGHTS:
44 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
Shane Rux
CHAMPIONS L3 Team Penning 2021 AQHA World Championship Show: Jitters Time, 2009 gelding (by One Time Pepto and out of Jitters Brown) Rider: Remy Greer, Hemet, CA. Mates Gone Wild, 2012, gelding (by Wild Haired Cat and out of Martina Mate) Rider: David Ruby, Didsbury, AB. Sheyken Them Bones, 2009, gelding (by Smooth As A Cat and out of Sheyssmartlittlelena) Rider: James Greer, Hemet, CA. All three horses are owned by David Ruby, Didsbury, AB.
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top:
Jesse Beckley and Trashinyurdreams, in their win picture. Lindsay Soderberg Geiger and Without Permission receive their Level 2 Open Champion award. PHOTO COURTESY of Soderberg Geiger. bekiw: Tyler Darroch’s world top 15 buckle. right: Deanna Beckley, cheering her husband Jesse, on in the NRHA Open Futurity finals.
above:
A Charitable Equine Organization funding: veterinary colleges and students and other worthwhile equine causes. www.equinefoundation.ca Bob Watson, President 403.378.4323 bob@equinefoundation.ca
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46 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
FO R E VE R AF T E R A L L
Dreamy outdoor ceremonies with gorgeous details, soft hues and cowboy hats – yes please! After so much worldly uncertainty, here’s how two country couples ran to the alter in 2021.
By Jenn Webster
KELLI-ANNE & GREG HURL date: AUGUST 28TH, 2021
photographer:
STARIZON IMAGES January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 47
SOMETHING DIFFERENT The couple chose silicon bands from Cabela’s, which proved to be a fortunate decision as a few weeks following the wedding, Kelli-Anne lost hers while field dressing a deer.
THEIR STORY Greg and Kelli-Ann met in 2018, online. Kelli-Anne had been born and raised with horses, growing up in British Columbia, however Greg was late to the party. As their relationship blossomed, the couple ended up buying two horses in their first year together and then decided they wanted the horses to be at home. They moved out of Calgary, to an acreage east of Airdrie, AB. “Rodeo has always been a big part of our lives (especially mine) and Greg was planning on proposing to me at the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) in Red Deer, AB, but due to COVID there was no CFR in 2020,” tells Kelli-Anne. “So, he had wanted to drive up to Red Deer and propose at the gates to Westerner Park, but that day was a total snow storm – so he ended up doing it right in our kitchen and well, the rest is history!” Kelli-Anne is the Chief Operating Officer for Equi-Boost Oil and Greg is an electrician. They are both very active in a local, historical western reenactment group called Guns of the Golden West. And they recently found out, they are expecting in 2022.
VENUE
The wedding ceremony and reception were held at a private acreage, although the couple travelled to the Airdrie Rodeo Grounds for photos.
48 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
All of the flowers came from Brilliant Blooms in Cochrane, AB.
BRIDESMAIDS
Each bridesmaid wore a turquoise dress purchased online.
BRIDE’S DRESS The bridal dress came from David’s Bridal in Calgary, AB. It was a Melissa Sweet brand, featuring an A-line with empire waist, a floor-length lace appliqué and a slit up to the mid thigh. The dress was altered by Rebecca Swan-Heslop – best friend of the bride. Swan-Heslop added turquoise and chocolate ribbon on both Kelli-Anne’s dress and veil to compliment the colours of the day. Kelli-Anne wore a turquoise necklace and earrings purchased from Frontier Western Store in Claresholm, AB, and finished off her look with cowboy boots purchased from Irvine’s Western Wear, Crossfield, AB. The bride’s make-up was done herself and her hair was done by Taryn Thiessen of Rural Roots Salon in Carstairs, AB.
GROOM’S & GROOMSMEN ATTIRE The groom wore a gray, western tweed vest with a soft chocolatecolored button-up shirt, jeans, and a black felt hat. Greg was gifted a pair of custom-made boots from the father of the bride – made for Kelli-Anne’s father years ago, which he wore when he married her mother, 29 years ago. Greg wore these special boots on his wedding day. The groomsmen each wore turquoise button-up shirts by Cinch, jeans, boots and straw hats.
FLOWERS the decor, signs, garters and DECOR Allsundry were made by the bride and family. CAKE The couple decided to serve different flavours of pie for their wedding, as opposed to a traditional wedding cake.
Kelli-Anne is one of those handy brides. Using sunflowers from her garden and baby’s-breath, she fashioned her own bouquet and those of her bridesmaids. Each was finished with a cowhide and leather lacing holder that she also made. Centre-pieces were crafted from artificial sunflowers purchased from various retail outlets and placed in whole oats from the Hurl’s own feed room. January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 49
BROOKLYN & COLTON WONG date: JULY 10, 2021
photographer:
HANNAH RUTH PHOTOGRAPHY 50 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
THEIR STORY As avid reiners, Colton Wong and Brooklyn Braun met in 2012 at the Wild Rose Reining Classic in Claresholm, AB. Both were competing and became friends while bathing their horses one evening. Over the course of the next few years, they grew fond of each other but as Brooklyn lived in Beechy, SK and Wong was from Cochrane, AB, they could only maintain a friendship. “Living six hours apart, we just stayed friends,” tells Brooklyn. Still, they received endless “encouragement” from fellow reiners and finally in her grade 12 year, Brooklyn asked Colton to make the long drive to Saskatchewan to be her grad escort. They have been a dynamic duo ever since. Ironically enough, Brooklyn’s mother Vicki, and father Brian, also met showing all-around horses at Quarterama (when it still existed), in Toronto, ON. Brian was riding for the Saskatchewan team, while Vicki was on the Alberta team at the time. “I thought it was kind of funny and sweet that I met my husband the same way,” says Brooklyn. Brooklyn and Colton were married in a beautiful outdoor ceremony that combined their love of the western lifestyle with a modern twist. Held at The Heritage Centre in Cremona, AB, Brooklyn reveals that she fell in love with the venue after discovering its history, ambience and ice cream shop located in the bottom of the barn. 52 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
SOMETHING All of the flowers came from Brilliant DIFFERENT Blooms in Cochrane, AB.
The Wong guest book was a Longhorn skull that visitors signed with a Sharpie.
BRIDE’S DRESS Brooklyn purchased her dress from Blush and Raven Bridal Boutique in Calgary, AB. The dress featured a scoop neck and illusion side panels. Her flowing skirt blended an effortlessly romantic look with chic, bridal details. Brooklyn’s hair was pulled into a low bun with wispy locks left in front, and tucked into a cathedrallength veil at the back. The hairstyle perfectly complimented large, pearl hoop earrings the bride purchased from Anthropologie, which also coordinated with a pearl bracelet that originally belonged to her Grandma Braun. Make-up was done by Sorella Beauty Studio, out of Sundre, AB.
FLOWERS All of the flowers came from Brilliant Blooms in Cochrane, AB.
CAKE The cake was made by the Maid of Honour herself – a rhubarb cheesecake.
VENUE
Both the ceremony and the reception were held at The Heritage Centre, by Mountain View Events in Cremona, AB.
BRIDESMAIDS All of the Bridesmaid dresses came from David’s Bridal. Each bridesmaid opted for a different style of dress, however they were all a cinnamon colour and floor length. The girls also color-coordinated their pre-wedding pyjamas to their dresses. Satin, cinnamon-colored pocket PJ sets (a button-up, short sleeved shirt with elasticated shorts), were worn by the Maid of Honour and bridesmaids. A white set was worn by the bride.
GROOM’S & GROOMSMEN ATTIRE DECOR
The ceremony arch and reception decorations all came from Events & Co. Weddings YYC, in Calgary, AB, All signs were made by the Maid of Honour’s mother. These included barn wood designs with inspirational love quotes placed daintily around the wedding reception. Plexi-glass signs splashed with cinnamon-colored paint and Calligraphy gave guests the seating arrangements, order of events and a list of food items. The table centrepieces were crafted with log slabs and brown jars containing flowers that matched those carried by the wedding party.
The menswear came from Moore’s Clothing and E W Menswear in Calgary, AB. The groom himself wore a light gray jacket, with a black tie, western button-up shirt, blue jeans, cowboy boots and one of his signature belt buckles. The groomsmen were dressed similarly, the only difference being their slightly, lighter gray tweed jackets. Cowboy hats were not worn during the ceremony, except by the fathers of the bride and groom. Colton did, however, pull out a handsome gray felt for the portrait sessions of the wedding photography. January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 53
A 20 mule team in Death Valley.
CREDIT: By NPS image from [1], Public Domain, https://commons. wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=124025.
ON THE BACKS oeMULE TRAIN Used to pull pioneer wagons, in farming operations and to haul boats through water, mules have helped to shape civilization in many different ways.
W
By DEBBIE MACRAE
ith a history as old as the Egyptian pyramids, and likely developed during ancient times in what would have been known as Constantinople or the Ottoman Empire, (now northwestern Turkey), the mule is the world’s oldest and most commonly known “man-made hybrid” animal. Even in the most powerful horse empires, the mule was considered more intelligent and more valuable than the greatest of chariot horses. Mules were often three times as much as a good horse, and seven times the value of a donkey, immortalized in monuments and depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphics. Turquoise mining expeditions sent by the Pharaohs into the 54 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
Sinai, marked their routes with stone carvings depicting the use of mules, as opposed to camels, sometime between 2100 BC and 1500 BC. Hardier than its parents, with stronger hooves, higher intelligence, more endurance, and a lower sleep requirement, mules were revered by Royalty as symbols of social status, and preferred for farming, mining, military transportation, and gifts. The mules of the Americas were introduced into the New World by Christopher Columbus. Four jacks and four jennys would provide the lineage for exploration by the Conquistadores, and these were fairly small in stature. America, however, would become a leading mule producer with a gift from King Charles of Spain to George Washington in 1785
h
– two Andalusian jenny donkeys and a four-year old Spanish jack, named “Royal Gift.” Until that time, the Spanish government had refused to export the Andalusian donkey. However, with a written request from George Washington to enhance the quality of his breeding stock, that gift would provide the cornerstone to the expansion and development of the North American continent as we know it today.
BREEDING
s
Breeding a male donkey (jackass) with a female horse (mare) produces the most common hybrid, often called the “Molly mule” – most popular for riding purposes. The less common “hinny” is produced by breeding a female donkey with a male horse. Mules are easier to obtain than hinnys, due primarily to the varied number of chromosomes between horses and donkeys in the two first-generation hybrids of the species. Horses have 64 chromosomes, and donkeys 62. Mules are the average at 63. While pregnancy in female mules is rare, it does occur naturally on occasion.
However, since the early 1500’s, just over 60 mule foals have been birthed with two of those actually reproducing their own foals. After the American Revolution, Washington’s breeding program had multiplied to an estimated 855,000 mules by 1808. Northern farmers favoured the horse, but southern farmers preferred the mule. They not only tilled the fields, they harvested and carried the crops to market. By the end of the century, the cotton boom in Texas, and the tobacco crops in the south increased the mule demand to over four million animals. Fort Worth, Texas became the world centre for the mule trade. But the west still had not expanded. The area known as the Northwest Territory, had valuable resources in timber, agricultural land, mining potential and furs. The Appalachian Mountains were the barrier to development in the areas which would ultimately become Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana. Transportation to these resources took weeks – and finances – and transportation of goods was limited by what could be pulled in a wagon. The Louisiana purchase signed on April 30, 1803, doubled the size of January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 55
Erie Canal mules.
the United States at that time, and included land from 15 present states, and small portions of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. Napoleon needed financing for his war against the United Kingdom, and could not effectively take possession of Louisiana because of his commitments to the war. The Americans were prepared to pay $10 million for New Orleans alone, and were astounded at the opportunity to purchase all of “Louisiana” for $15 million. The expansion proved to be the largest territorial gain in the history of the United States, with one of the largest fertile land tracts on earth. The need to develop good farm animals with reduced feeding costs, durability, and greater endurance, pushed the mule market to the forefront. However, during the first decade of the 1800’s, it was cost prohibitive to move agricultural products even from the western region of New York State to the Atlantic coastal markets. In 1807, a flour merchant by the name of Jesse Hawley went to prison for being unable to pay his bills. From there, he published a series of essays advocating for the building of a canal system which would advance the economic development of New York. His idea caught the attention of the New York City mayor – DeWitt Clinton – and he lobbied for its development after becoming governor of the state. The project would become known as “Clinton’s Folly,” ridiculed by those who predicted it could never come to fruition. The problem was, that in order to do so, a navigable water route had to be built, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes from the Hudson river, in Albany, a distance of 363 miles. The terrain included forests, cliffs, fields, swamps, rivers and mountains, excavating mostly by hand and animal power, most of which were mules. The work included uprooting trees and stumps, draining swampland, developing cement that hardened under water, and blasting through the Niagara escarpment. Dynamite hadn’t been invented yet, so the rock was blasted with gunpowder. The elevation changed 571 feet from Albany to Buffalo, which meant the water had to travel “uphill.” 56 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
The project started in 1817 and by the time it was completed in 1825, it was considered to be an engineering marvel. The project was new to North America and engineers had little experience with canals or lock systems. Locks are compartments on the canal into which a boat enters – similar to a bathtub. The doors are “locked” and the compartment (or bathtub) is filled (or emptied) with water to raise it (or lower it) to the level of the next segment of the canal. When those doors are “unlocked,” the boat floats onto the next segment at the higher (or lower) level. This project led to the first civil engineering school in New York in 1824. It also led to the transformation of New York City as the commercial gateway to the US. The Erie Canal opened October 25, 1825 – only four feet deep and 40 feet wide – with 83 locks, traversing nearly 400 miles. Flat-bottomed boats or barges, became the preferred mode of transportation, but “poling” heavy cargoes with awkward one-way barges was not practical or efficient. After having utilized work animals for building the canal, mules emerged as a new power source on the Erie Canal. Until they were phased out by towboats with internal combustion engines on a deeper and wider canal in the 1920’s, mules remained the primary tow-power on the canal. Walking on a tow-path adjacent to the canal wall, boats would be guided by a single mule, a mule/donkey/horse or combination team, walking in tandem, one behind the other – and sometimes side by side. Capable of hauling 30 tons of cargo, a single mule could work up to 18 hours a day on low-grade feed, without the requirement for high energy grains like its equine counterpart, the horse. Unlike horses, they would not get into the canal if they were thirsty or hot. They paced themselves, avoiding heat exhaustion and fatigue, and they avoided eating poisonous plants. They were capable of working long hours, six or seven days a week with a longevity of 15 to 18 years. They didn’t overeat, or drink excessively, and wouldn’t drink contaminated water. They didn’t get sick and were less stubborn than donkeys. When they had enough, they quit. They could not be pushed beyond their endurance.
h Borax, a compound made from the mineral Boron, is a common house cleaning agent and offers a variety of other uses including glazing for construction and fiberglass. When it was discovered in Death Valley (along the California-Nevada border) during the 1880s, Borax magnate F.M. “Borax” Smith was quick to seize on the opportunity. Soon, he had 20-Mule wagon teams hauling tons of Borax out of the desert to be used in thousands of products.
The Louisiana Purchase was the purchase of the territory of Louisiana by the United States from Napoleonic France in 1803. It included land from 15 states and small portions of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. CREDIT: Natural Earth and Portland State University
The mule drivers, or “hoggees”, were young boys aged 8 to 12. Many were orphans hired by the captain, and more often, young boys of the family who owned the boat. With one hand on the reins and one hand on the tow-line, they walked step-by-step, hour by hour, with their mules. Captains usually lived on board with their families, and children were schooled on-board. They shopped, attended church, and purchased supplies in towns along the canal. Packet boats carried passengers or tourists, and were usually pulled by horses. Line boats carried freight pulled by mules, and hauled immigrants, guns, tools, supplies, manufactured goods and furniture and on their return trips usually carried dried goods, fruit and vegetables, lumber and furs. Scows (flat-bottomed boats) hauled lumber, and Hurry-Up scows repaired the canal. Animals were housed in a make-shift barn or stable on the bow or forward part of the boat. They accessed the boat by means of a horse bridge which they kept on the roof, steering their mules on with their tails. Mules could walk 10 miles per hour – but if they did, their speed would wash out the banks of the canal – so the legal speed limit on the canal was four miles an hour with the Hurry boats travelling up to 11 miles an hour for repairs. Sometimes barge owners would swap out the mules and travel through the night going as many as 20 miles a day. The older sons usually got the night shift – a lonely and monotonous task. The towlines were up to 150 feet long. If a boat wanted to pass, they would move the boat to the side, and let the towline sink to the bottom of the canal so they didn’t tangle. More than one team of mules got dragged into the canal by a passing boat – and that did not make for amiable relations – although it provided entertainment for the children and observers! Before the canal was built, cargo costs were about $125 per ton, taking upwards of 45 days to travel the distance from Albany to Buffalo. Seven Weighlock stations collected the tolls. The canal reduced the
cost to $6 a ton and the time to 9 days. Tolls were abolished by 1882, reaping an unprecedented profit of $42 million after expenses for original construction costs, enlargement with a deeper and wider canal, maintenance and operation. Today, the only remaining Weighlock station is the site of the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse, New York. Canada was a significant beneficiary of the Erie Canal. With a reduction in costs from New York to the Great Lakes, Canada benefitted from reduced freight costs, reduced delivery times, and more manufactured goods. Settlers moved west, finding a more viable solution to previous costprohibited market transportation. Agriculture opened up. The Canal was a leg of the Underground Railway, freeing slaves from the south and assisting them into Canada. It was a platform for social reform, religious freedoms, and women’s rights. It was a conduit for understanding and the balance of social justice. With the development of the west came the California gold rush in 1848, the Klondike gold rush in 1896, the Borax mines in Nevada, and the stage coach. Mules were the pillars of progress. Western towns were laid out with wide streets to allow their fire-fighters to turn the muleteams around. Mules were called to active duty in both WWI and WWII, and again in the 1980’s when thousands of mules were purchased to help maintain supply lines in Afghanistan. On a higher note, teams of mules were used to pull the first jet engine to the top of Pikes Peak in Colorado, for testing purposes in one of the first experiments. That successful test would assist in the development of today’s U.S. space program. Our country, our continent, and our progress have been influenced for centuries by the development of this little understood “hybrid.” It’s time to recognize and appreciate the contribution that’s been made on the backs of the Mule Train. WHR January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 57
Backforty g
These weeks go by so very fast, Seems just a while since I saw you last. The weatherman says that it might rain, How sad to make you freeze again. That old bay horse? He threw a shoe, Two weeks ago, give or take a few. When I said at first, there would be four, Saw one for sale… Heck, what’s one more? My big guy is gimping lots, Sixteen hands and in double-oughts. He kicks and pulls his feet away, I’m going to work on that some day. I’d hoped you’d have my pony sounder, Despite the grass that made him founder. You said last time that he should diet, It seems so mean, I’m loathe to try it.
An Ode to my Farrier I wrote this one morning, on the back of a feed invoice. I hope you enjoy it and are moved to think fondly of your own farriers. Meanwhile, I’m sitting snug in the house with my coffee, watching ever more snow come down. Poem by Lee McLean
Oh, say, about your bill, I’ve been meaning to pay it. Still, With my fuel and the price of hay, A vacation booked to get away… But worry not, for without fail, You know my cheque is “in the mail”. Or would you rather that I wait, And settle up on our next date? Don’t take this wrong, I like your work, But his toes are long. Now here’s a perk, I saw this on the internet, Therefore, it is the best way, yet. Really, I should take a course, Then I could barefoot trim my horse. For now, I’ll call that guy instead, You know he’s eight bucks less, per head? So young and keen, fresh out of school, Not bent and jaded, as a rule. If he’s no good, fear not, my friend. I can always use you in the end.
Lee McLean is best known for the storytelling on her Facebook page, Keystone Equine, and for her good ponies. One of eight women to race, sidesaddle, at the Calgary Stampede, Lee is resolved to write for, teach and represent other ordinary riders… the people who ride despite illness, injury, fear and changed plans! Her first book, HORSE WOMAN: Notes on Living Well & Riding Better, was just published and is available on Amazon. Lee lives with her husband, Mike, in the rolling hills of southwestern Alberta. 58 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW January/February 2022
January/February 2022 WESTERN HORSE REVIEW.COM 59
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